Hair Removal Creams Are Enjoying a Renaissance—These Are the Best Ones (2025)

As with most of Musely's lineup, before ordering the product, you’ll consult virtually with one of the brand's in-house dermatologists to assess your skin type, concerns, and medical history, before passing along a prescription that’ll arrive at your doorstep.

Best Scents: Wakse Meltoway Hair Dissolving Cream

Why it's worth it: Let’s not beat around the (or your) bush—the chemicals in depilatory creams tend to smell pretty pungent. But Wakse wanted to change that, which it did (really well), as evidenced by the Meltoway Hair Dissolving Cream. In addition to an intensive formula that disintegrates hair in less than 10 minutes, this custardy cream comes in three different scent profiles that smell more like a sweet treat than a hair removal product. Its fast-acting formula is available in Fairy Floss, a purple cotton candy-scented lotion, Guava Butter, and Mango Magic.

We love the versatility of this cream, as it can be used on both your face and body. On your face, you should leave it on for at most three minutes, and for coarser patches of body hair (like legs and underarms), up to nine minutes.

Best Foaming Treatment: Completely Bare Easy Off Foaming Hair Removal Spray

Why it's worth it: If you want the benefits of cream- or lotion-based depilatory formulas, but find those textures to be a little claustrophobic, try Completely Bare's Easy Off Foaming Hair Removal Spray. Despite the formula’s airiness, you’ll get the same comprehensive, no-fuss dissolving you would in a thicker option, boosted by conditioning and soothing shea butter and aloe vera. Allow the foam to sit for three to ten minutes before wiping down with a damp towel. This formula also contains volcanic ash to provide a subtle buffing effect. The result? Skin free of stubble and dry patches. J’adore.

Best Body Butter: Nad’s 3-In-1 Body Butter Hair Removal Cream

Why it's worth it: Yes, depilatory creams can dry out skin, which is why Nad’s 3-In-1 Body Butter Hair Removal Cream works overtime to replenish much-needed moisture. This formula tackles your coarsest body hairs and enriches skin with a conditioning concoction of cocoa and shea butters for a velvety-smooth feel. Its thicker consistency also prevents the product from annoyingly dripping down your legs and arms, smelling pretty darn good all the while. Let it sit for two to eight minutes before rinsing off in the shower.

Best for Sensitive Skin: Veet Gel Cream Hair Remover

Why it's worth it: Divya Shokeen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Manhattan Beach, California, repeatedly reaches for Veet's Gel Cream Hair Remover—her depilatory cream of choice. "This product is specially formulated for sensitive skin, featuring aloe vera and vitamin E to soothe and hydrate the skin," she says. Its gel-like texture may feel dense at first, but lather it in and watch as it transforms into a light mousse, reminiscent of your favorite shaving cream. The light, floral-smelling formula comes in an easy-to-portion pump bottle for seamless in-shower use. Leave it on for ten minutes max and then give your body a thorough rinse.

Best for Bikini: WooWoo Tame It Hair Removal Cream

Why it's worth it: Removing hair from your bikini area can be super frustrating. Even if you use the same removal method every time, bikini bumps have a mind of their own. WooWoo’s Tame It Hair Removal Cream, however, cuts down on some of the unpredictability. The in-shower treatment is infused with aloe and jojoba to hydrate and soothe as the chemicals kick into gear, which also helps cut down on ingrowns in the process. You can also use it on your butt (keep it to the exterior please). Apply the cream with the included spatula, let it sit for up to three minutes, and cleanse the area with warm water and a cloth when you’re done.

Best Exfoliating: Nair Hair Remover Beauty Treatment Charcoal Clay Leg Mask

Why it's worth it: Nair knows hair removal, so when the brand blessed us with this Beauty Treatment Charcoal Clay Leg Mask, we were tickled. It works like your typical depilatory cream, but brings more bouginess to your shower. The formula stars ingredients like exfoliating, brightening charcoal, and creamy kaolin clay to achieve that mask effect to tackle hair below the surface, slowing future growth, all while moisturizing and cleansing pores. Lay it on thick, maxing out at 10 minutes of leave-on time, and then rinse away to reveal smooth, stubble-free legs and feet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do hair removal creams work?

According to dermatologists like Dr. Shokeen, hair removal creams contain a chemical solution that breaks down the keratin structure of the hair follicle, weakening the strand at the skin's surface so that it can be easily wiped away. "The active ingredients usually found in hair removal creams include calcium thioglycolate or potassium thioglycolate, which sever the hair's protein bonds," she adds. Since these creams target disulfide bonds to weaken them, they're technically the opposite of bond-repair hair treatments. Additionally, many hair removal creams on the market use botanical oils to help moisturize and soothe skin as the chemical formula gets to work.

Can you use hair removal creams everywhere on your body?

Before you slather a hair removal cream all over your bikini line, it's important to note that certain hair removal products can be harsh on skin, especially sensitive areas like your bikini area and underarms. To avoid any irritation and unwanted side effects like chemical burns, New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, suggests always reading the instructions to ensure your cream is suitable for the areas of skin you're applying it to. "There are some hair removal creams designed for more sensitive areas, but, regardless, I recommend patch-testing on a small area of skin before applying to larger areas of your body," she says. Dr. Murphy-Rose suggests waiting at least three to five days post-application to check for signs of both immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions. "If you notice burning, stinging, itching, or development of a rash, the product is probably not safe for you," she says.